Theatrical appliance.



R. J. DENNY.

THEATRIGAL APPLIANCE.

AIfPLIUATION rum) 1mm. 1910.

Patented 0ct.4, 1910.

1m: NORRIS PETERS co WASHINGTON, n. c.

RUBIN J. DENNY, 033' BEVERLY, ARKANSAS.

THEATRICAL APPLIANCE.

Application filed January 3, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUBIN J. DENNY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beverly, in the county of Sebastian and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Theatrical Appliances, of which the following is a specification,

This invention relates to theatrical appliances, more particularly however to that class of theatr'cal appliances where the actor is devoid of all visible means of support, by the use of various mirrors cooperating to presentan image of the actor before the eyes of the audience.

It also contemplates the construction of a device of this type and character which will permit the actor to arrange himself upon the exhibiting platform before being made visible to the eyes of the audience.

With the above and other objects in view this invention consists of the construction, combination and arrangement of parts all as hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a central longitudinal section .of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, parts thereof being broken away.

The device forming the subject-matter of the present invention comprises a box or exhibiting cabinet A, having at one end thereof the opening 1, through which the audience witnesses the performance. Gentrally disposed in the top 2 of the cabinet adjacent the end containing the opening 1 is a similar opening 3, above which the actor displays himself. The actors image appears in the mirror 4t placed on the bottom of the cabinet after which it is reflected to an oblique mirror 5 interposed between the top and bottom of the cabinet and abutting at the rearward extremity of the mirror 4.. This construction makes it possible for the actor performing over the opening 3 to have his image cast in the mirror 0, through the medium of the mirror 4, bringing the same into the line of vision of the audience stationed on the exterior of the opening 1. Shadows which are likely to occur within the cabinet are eliminated by the use of the lights 6 of any construction, placed on the Walls of the same.

Disposed on each side of the opening 3 in Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 4, 191.0.

Serial No. 535,993.

the top of the cabinet and running longitudinally with respect to the latter are the tracks 7 on which reciprocates the car or truck carrying the actor. This car or truck comprises a U-shaped frame 8 provided with the wheels 9 and having in the lower arm of said frame the ball bearings 10. An exhibiting frame 11 is adapted to rotate within the groove of said U-shaped frame 8 through the instrumentality of the outwardly formed flange 12 operating in said groove, and rest ing against the ball bearings 10. The sides of said exhibiting frame extend upwardly a sufficient distance to eliminate all obj ectionable surrounding scenery and have on the inner side thereof adjacent the flange 12, the inwardly extending stud 13 on which is placed the heavy plate glass platform 14-. Located just above the U-shaped frame 8 is a peripheral flange 15 on which is formed a series of teeth 16.

Located between the forward extremity of the tracks 7 are the pedestals 17 in which is journaled the shaft 18, said shaft having secured thereon and interposed between said pedestals the worm 19 that cooperates with the teeth 16 of the flange 15. At the outer extremity of the shaft 18 is any suitable means for rotating the same and as a result imparting a circular motion to the exhibiting frame 11, which is occupied by the actor, the latter reclining on the plate glass platform 14L. In order to retain the teeth in engagement with the worm, an upwardly curved spring 20 is attached to the track 7 a sufficient distance from the pedestal in such manner that it retains the gear during ordinary pressure against the worm, but upon having suflicient force applied thereto, the spring will be overcome and the gear removed from contact with said worm. At the opposite extremity of the top of the cabinet is a compartment 21 which is used as a dressing room for the actor, said compartment being separated from the exhibiting chamber C by the partition 22, said partition having an opening 23 therein. This opening is provided with a swinging door 2 1 which is adapted to swing in either direction, thus in no way interfering with the passage of the car. By this construction the exhibiting chamber C being open at the top presents an image of a natural sky to the audience, and as a result makes it appear as though the actor was floating in space. It will also be noticed from the foregoing description that the actor may place himself upon the plat-form l t in any desired position in the dressing compartment 21, thus making it impossible for the audience to observe his movements except when acting.

Having thus fully described my invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a cabinet having an opening at one extremity thereof and a. similar opening in the top adjacent said end opening, a series of mirrors arranged in said cabinet adapted to reflect an image of an actor over said top opening before the end opening, means reciprocating on the top of said cabinet for bringing said actor before said mirrors, and means for rotating the latter.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a cabinet having an opening at one extremity thereof and a similar opening in the top adjacent said end opening, a series of mirrors arranged in said cabinet adapted to reflect an image of an actor over said top opening before the end opening, a car reciprocating on the top of said cabinet provided with a rotatable exhibiting platform thereon, and means whereby said platform may be rotated.

23. A device of the class described, comprising a cabinet having an opening in one extremity thereof and a similar opening in the top adjacent said end opening, a series of mirrors arranged in said cabinet adapted to reflect the image of an actor over said top opening before said end opening, a dressing room arranged on the top of said cabinet, tracks arranged longitudinally with respect to the cabinet on either side of the top opening, a circular car adapted to reciprocate on said tracks from said dressing room to a position over said top opening, comprising a frame approximately U-shaped in cross section, having wheels mounted thereon, and an exhibiting platform adapted to rotate in said frame.

4. A device of the class described, comprising a cabinet having an opening in one extremity thereof and a similar opening in the top adjacent said end opening, a series of mirrors arranged in said cabinet adapted to reflect the image of an actor over said top opening before said end opening, a dressing room arranged on the top of said cabinet on either side of the top opening, a circular car adapted to reciprocate on said tracks from said dressing room to a position over said top opening, comprising a frame approximately U-shaped in cross section, having wheels mounted thereon, an exhibiting plat form adapted to rotate in said frame consisting of a wall having a flange engaged in said U-shaped frame and a toothed flange superposed above said frame and a transparent platform, and means for rotating said wall comprising a worm engaging said toothed flange.

5. A device of the class set forth comprising a cabinet, openings in said cabinet, mirrors arranged in said cabinet adapted to reflect the image of an object appearing in one opening before the remaining opening, and means whereby said object may be reciprocated to and from the opening in which it appears.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RUBIN J. DENNY. lVitnesses J, WV. S'ronre, R. T. JONES. 

